Andrew b



(No Model.)

J. W. RAPP.

T-BAR.

No! 557,147. Patented Mar. 31, 1896..

l diwmmn/ UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN IV. PRAPP, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

T-BAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,147, dated March31, 1896.

Application filed May 18, 1895. Serial No. 549,745. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concer-n.-

Be it known that I, JOHN IV. RAPP, of New York, in the county and Stateof New York, have invented a certain new and luseful Improvement inT-Bars, of which the following is a specification.

I will describe a T-bar embodying the features of my improvement andthen point out the novel features in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis an isometric view of a T-barembodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same,showing a strengthening-bar which has been combined with the T-bar. Fig.3 is a plan View of a portion of a floor, showing a manner of using theimprovement. Figs. 4 and 5 show methods of combining woodennailing-strips with the bars.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

At the present day it is a common practice to construct the framework ofbuildin gs-that is, the groundwork of the floors, ceilings, partitions,dsc-of rolled iron or steel shapes, as they are called. The use ofI-beams is involved in this construction, supported on columns or otherI-beams, while oftentimes the support for the floor between the beams isformed by arches of masonry sprung between the beams. Anotherconstruction is that in which tiling or bricks are supported at theirends upon bars resting upon the lower flanges of the I-beams. Theso-called T-bars are utilized for this purpose, the flanges of the barbeing used as the supports for the ends of the tiling or bricks. TheT-bars are not only applied to this purpose in floor construction, butin roof and ceiling construction as well. T-bars thus employed are inthe condition of loaded beams and require to be very strong to resist anundue amount of deflection. Ordinary bars of this form are usually weakin the longitudinal web portion of the bar, this portion buckling andbeing displaced at the first sign of weakness in the bar.

My invention is particularly directed toward the strengthening of thisportion of the bar. In forming my improved T-bar I use sheet metal andbend the same approximately to the form of the ordinary T-bar, giving tothe web portion of the bar, instead of a simple fiat strip, as in theordinary form, a shape muc-h resembling that of a flattened horseshoe,thus giving a breadth of metal where it will be most serviceable inresisting a compressive stress.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents my improved T-bar. It will beseen to have laterally-extending flanges ca a and a yoke-piece aconnecting them. The distance between the sides of the yoke where itjoins the flanges a a is less than the distance between the same at apoint nearer to the bight of the yoke.

To further strengthen the T-bar, I may interpose between the two sidesof the yoke an upright strip B, extending lengthwise of the T-bar. Thestrip B may be secured in the T-barA by indenting the latter, as shownat b.

Fig. 3 represents a method of applying the T-bars. O C are I-beams,suitably supported, upon whose lower flanges rest the T-bars A A. Drepresents bricks or tiling whose eX- tremities rest upon these T-bars.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is represented a construction of combinednailing-strip and my improved T-bar for securing the flooringboardswhere a iiooring is applied immediately over the T-bars.

In Fig. 4., E is the T-bar, to the top portion of which there is tted alongitudinal wooden strip F, which serves as a nailing-strip to securethe wooden flooring. The strip F is held in place by side plates ofsheet metal f, riveted or otherwise secured to the T-bar.

In Fig. 5, G is the T-bar; H, the nailingstrip; H', a metallic platewhose edges rest upon the flanges of the T-bar and which is bent betweenits edges to conform to the top of the T-bar, as shown.

A T-bar made according to my inventionthat is, of sheet metal and of theform described-offers decided advantages as regards ease and economy ofproduction, as well as desirable qualities in the product. First, thematerial, consisting of sheet or platemetal, an almost universalcommodity, simpler and less expensive machinery and tools are necessaryto form the T-bar than if the same were rolled to form from the ingot.Especially is this true when the shape of the T-bar is borne in mind-ashape which does not lend itself readily to direct formation from theingot by rolling processes. Second,the strength IOO of the T-bar is amaximum, since a great part of the material is placed at that portion ofthe bar where it will best resist the deformation of the samenamely,that portion which is in compression under the action of a load.

Having described my invention, what l consider as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. A T-bar made from sheet metal, comprising bottom iianges and ayoke-piece connecting the flanges, the yoke-piece consisting of a curvedor arched portion and inclined sides converging toward the points fromwhich the bottom flanges extend, substantially as speci- 2. A T-bar madefrom sheet metal comprising bottom flanges and a yoke-piece connectingthe same combined with a longitudinal strengthening-strip held betweenthe sides of the yoke, substantially as specified.

3. A T-bar made from sheet metal comprising bottom flanges and ayoke-piece connecting the same, the distance between the sides of theyoke being less where the saine joins the bottom flanges than it is at apoint nearer the bight of the yoke, combined with awooden nailing-striplitted to the bar, substantially as specified.

4. A T-bar made from sheet metal comprising bottom flanges and ayoke-piece connecting the same, combined with a wooden nailing-stripfitted to the bar and a metal plate contacting with the bar and nailing-strip, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. RAPI. Vitiiesses:

PinnsoN L. WELLS, JAC. KLEMANN, Jr.

